Senior scribe GS Kalita passes awayStaff Reporter GUWAHATI, June 9 – Senior journalist Gaurisankar Kalita passed away today at 9.30 am at his Santipur residence following a stroke. The journalist, well appreciated for his writings on North East India, was 55.

Kalita did his early studies at Ramakrishna Mission, Deogarh, and had his higher education in Cotton College.

He had a brief stint at the State Warehousing Corporation after which he entered the field of journalism. For several years, he was associated with The Sentinel, and later had associations with North East Times and a few other publications.

Kalita was also a recipient of the ML Kathbarua award for investigative journalism.

He leaves behind his wife Garima Kalita, lecturer at Udalguri College, mother, three brothers and five sisters.

Kalita’s mortal remains was brought to the Guwahati Press Club premises where members of the media fraternity paid floral tributes to the departed soul.

His last rites were performed at the Navagraha crematorium this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has, in a press release, expressed his deep shock and profound sorrow at the sudden demise of Kalita.

In a condolence message, Gogoi said that Kalita had during his long chequered career as a journalist and later as an editor had raised key issues facing the State and put them in proper perspectives. “Kalita had an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the problems plaguing the State and the region and created public opinion through his writings. The void created by his death will be hard to fill,” he said.

The Chief Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.

Meanwhile, various organisations, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Journalist Kamala Saikia Memorial Trust, have condoled the death of the senior journalist.